Step to Speak Chinese

Instructions
Difficulty: Challenging
Step1
To successfully master a language, your desire cannot be built on the same foundation that saw you begging for a clarinet then one month later saw it get pushed under your bed.To honestly determine your desire, write down on a piece of paper the things you have wanted to do in your life and have done successfully. Compare them with the things you have not done. Compare all of those with the ideas that acted as a catalyst for your decision to learn Chinese. Take those and learn from them.
Step2
Maintain a strict daily schedule of practice. To do this, you have to treat it like school, or work. Devote at least 30 minutes a day.
Step3
Now that you have the desire and the schedule, you need help. This may be as simple as letting a friend or family member know you have decided to learn Chinese. Let them know how they can help you. Ask around, find a family member or friend who wants to learn it with you. As you stick to your schedule you will help each other to keep going and be successful.
Step4
Find the right kind of materials. Look online at online bookstores for the best selection of beginning Chinese books and tapes. A tape is a must. Since Chinese has five tones, you will need to hear and mimic those tones. Just reading them will not help. A word that sounds like one word or sound to our untrained ears, changes in meaning depending on the tone assigned to it. In these books will be a myriad of exercises to help with the basics. While some may give a slight introduction to writing characters, do not concern yourself with characters yet. There is no need to write characters until you can first speak.
Step5
Once you have a list of basic words, make flash cards. Use these to test each other. Also, make cards to tape on to things around your house or school room. On these cards write the Chinese word for the very object you taped it to.
Step6
When you wake up in the morning and have your first lesson, take those words or sentences with you and use them constantly. Incorporate them into your routine. When you see something on a sign, or when someone says something and mentions a word you know, tell them the Chinese translation, or tell yourself. The next day use those same words, in addition to the new words for the day. You will be amazed at how fast you pick up words and how quickly you will be able to form basic sentences.
Step7
Question. This step is especially true if you have someone as a mentor or know someone who speaks Chinese fluently. As you go through your day, write down words or phrases you want to know. Look them up, ask people, learn how to say them. Don't worry about why yet. Just learn how, the why's will come as your understanding increases.
Step8
Save money. If possible, save money over the course of a year or two and plan to make a trip to Taiwan or China as a reward for your efforts. It will be an experience you will never forget. While there, use your Chinese to get around. Many speak English and can help, but do all you can do on your own. Prior to doing this, make a list of questions that you may want to ask and learn how to say the in Chinese. Questions yield answers and answers propel learning.
Step9
Above all, have fun! ...And remember, Yu can do it!
hohohohx.........